The Iraqi Connection http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/The-Iraqi-Connection/273948/# Sunday, February 17, 2008 Had it not been for a sensational kidnapping in Baghdad in the latter half of the 1820s, Mumbai's architectural, sculptural and cultural landscape might have turned out differently. Intent on persecuting the Jewish community in his land, the new Turkish Pasha of Baghdad imprisoned David Sassoon, son of the minister of finance, Saleh Sassoon, demanding outrageous amounts of ransom money. Rescued out of jail and sent on his way through Basra, onward to Bushire and eventually, Bombay, David Sassoon, heir of a wealthy banker and chief treasurer, landed on our shores in 1832 and changed the face of his adopted homeland. [snip] ----- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar Nagpur, India